It is the simple things in life that bring the greatest joy. Many times we
get caught up with the issues of life and lose focus on the simple things
that bring the most joy. We are to appreciate every gift that we've been
given and make a conscious effort to count our blessings and see that we
are highly favored in the eyes of God. It is in seeing those less fortunate
than us that we find how truly blessed we are. It should not take for us
to look at those less fortunate to appreciate life, but sadly this is what
it sometimes takes for our eyes to be opened and shown that we have much
to be appreciative of. Be encouraged to enjoy this day to the fullest and
realize for yourself that you are abundantly blessed and have many reasons
to be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-17) (1 Timothy 6:6-8) (Psalm 34:1-4)

I hope this message encourages your heart to see that you are highly
favored and have much to be grateful for.

BLESSED BY SIMPLICITY

This is a simple little story, with a simple meaning - but it has a very
powerful message...

I recently started working part-time at a discount store. I have had the
opportunity to observe customers from all walks of life. Even though the
store is a “discount” store, shoppers range from well-to-do to the plain
and simple whose economic needs probably necessitate their shopping at
discount stores. Of course I already knew that having a bright loving
persona isn’t by any means related to how affluent a person is, and that
is what this little story is about...

This week a special blessing was sent my way! Three very special customers
came in together - three young ladies - or maybe I should label them angels
in disguise! I was standing behind the counter as they entered and realized
that one of the ladies was the caregiver and that she had brought the other
two “mentally challenged” ladies in to shop. I believe that’s the modern
term for what society formerly called “mentally retarded.” Webster’s
Dictionary defines the word “retarded” as “slow or delayed.” What I am
about to describe certainly reflects neither...

As the ladies shopped all around the store eventually they came up to the
counter where I was standing, to look at the ring display. One of the
ladies had her arms overflowing with little toys and other items. I think
most of it was for friends back at the group home where they lived. She
was naming what she had chosen special for each friend.

She then carefully picked out a ring which she said she was buying for her
boyfriend. The other lady tried on different rings and then decided upon
one for herself, with the guidance of the caregiver, who was so kind and
patient with them. As they were standing at the counter looking at the
rings, I started talking to them, and one of the ladies formally introduced
me to the caregiver and to her other friend.

She put her arms around each one, hugged them up close to her and said,
“These are my friends”, and told me their names. Then she looked direct at
me, smiled, and said, “You are two of a kind!” I smiled back at her in
silence, not knowing what she meant by that! I have since thought about
those words and I’m not totally sure of what she meant by them, but I hope
that in her own special way perhaps she sensed a friendly loving spirit
within me as that of her friends! That one simple little sentence blessed
my heart that day, and made me feel very special!

I saw the joy of simplicity that these ladies were savoring, and I felt the
happiness they were sharing together as friends. As they paid for their
purchases with their own money, I could sense their feeling of satisfaction
of being independent in choosing what they wanted to buy. They seemed so
happy and content with what they had chosen. No debating over whether they
should do this or that, and no discussing or worrying whether their friends
would be happy with the gifts chosen just for them. I’m sure they had no
doubt that their friends would appreciate what they had bought for them,
because it was coming from their hearts.

Just a simple day - a simple shopping spree - but it made me realize that
these young ladies were living life to the fullest! I believe they were
truly angels in disguise sent just for me that day, to make me more aware
of how complicated I tend to make my own life sometimes, and that I need
to slow down, look around, and savor the simple joys of life. It’s right
there under our noses, if only we will slow down enough to see it! These
young ladies didn’t have lots of worldly possessions or any of the things
that we think we have to have in order to enjoy life. They were just simply
enjoying the pathway that God had chosen for their lives, to the best of
their abilities. How many of us can honestly say that we do that?

It’s the simple things in life that matter the most. Sometimes we get so
busy that we forget that. We get so caught up in the rat race of life that
we forget how our lives can be so richly Blessed by Simplicity!

By Kathy S. Norris

Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Philippians 2:2-3 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife
or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves.”

Psalm 34:1-4 “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the
humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and
let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and
delivered me from all my fears.”

Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Revelation 22:12-14 Jesus declares “And, behold, I come quickly; and My
reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed
are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of
life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”